Director J.J. Abrams won’t be helming a galaxy far, far away for too long if new reports are true. Deadline and TheWrap now both claim that Looper’s time-traveling brainiac Rian Johnson is now amidst making plans of his own to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII following Abrams’ now possible departure from Star Wars: Episode VII.
Though Deadline reports that Johnson’s set to direct Star Wars: Episode IX as well, TheWrap claims he’ll only provide a treatment for the saga-finale and yet another director will be succeeding him. We’ll update you with more word on this matter as it becomes available.
Johnson joins a an ever-growing slate of top directors gearing up for a Force-powered debut. While Abrams is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VII, Godzilla director Gareth Edwards and Chronicle visionary Josh Trank are slated to helm their own “solo” films, maybe or maybe not involving a certain Corellian smuggler.
Star Wars parent Walt Disney intends for a Star Wars flick to hit theaters every year beginning with Episode VII on December 18, 2015. The film stars John Boyega, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaacs, Max von Sydow, Andy Serkis, and the classic trilogy’s trio of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher in their respective roles as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa.
In the meantime, Johnson took to Twitter to share his own thoughts with fans in kind regarding the news via a video clip from Phil Kaufman’s 1983 film The Right Stuff. Whether Abram’s time with R2-D2 and the gang is a one-deal trip, it seems he doesn’t want to *ahem* make any mistakes.
*Warning: strong language below*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9iP2WEvq2s
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